Cap-sorting machine



Dec. 8 1925.

H. R. PINKERTON CAP SORTING MACHINE Original Filed July 31. 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 8 1925. 1,564,619

H. R. PINKERTON CAP SORTING MACHINE Original Filed July 31. 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 8 1925.

H. R. PINKERTON CAP SORTING MACHINE Original Filed July 31 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVEN'IOR Mime/a")? Hake/"$012 ATTORNEY Patented Deal 3,

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Be it known that I, lliinom H. PJNJXER- won, a citizen otthe United'States, and a resident of Yakima, Yakima County, *W'ashingtoin have invented certain new and use Tlill'l Improveinentsin Cap-Sorting Machines, of which theliollowing is a specification j Th is invention relates tosorting and pack mg lilttCl'l-illtls and particularly to machines for sorting "bottle caps and forpa'eking thein in containers for shipn'ientandfrom which they may be tedinto the magazines of bottle capping machines.

"It is the principal object of this in-yention to' provide a machine whereby bottle caps of that character that are adapted to be ap plied over the l11()llill$'()f 'niilk bottles, or the like" may beautomatically taken 'it'roin a receiving hopper, into which they are tie hvered from bottle ca making machine; sorted and then packed 'in an even and ordinary manner in tubular containers. More specifically the invention residesin "the means provided whereby caps delivered into each container will be faced in the same direction-5 that is, all caps will either be right side up or all inverted. i I Other objects or the invention" reside "in the various details of construction and combination ofparts whereby -a 'very'coln' pact and durable construction isproiiided and whereby the operatioir'of so'rting' aii'd peeking the caps will be aocol'nplished quickly and accurately. 3 "in accon'iplishing these and other objects" oi theimention, I have proyided the iniproved details" o't construction; the pre 't'erred'i orins of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, Wherein Figure l is'a front elevation of a bottle eap sorting and packing machine construct ed in accordance with the present invention? a part of the hopper being broken away for better illustration 7 v i f fi ifgure 'Qfis a horizontal sectional, View. taken on'the line 29-2 in Figure I Figure "3 is a vertical" section taken stanti ally n "'tl1elinef3 3 W Figure 2 tio'ularly illustrating the' means roiferri'ng'tle caps tojthle receiving in end theeameetuat' ste pness or adar ue gthej p r the lireigazine yertlcallsee 1011 l pie 4 'Flgui illustrailn the cieli'iiery tnbe leadIiigtroih theffeding cone Within the hopper opening.

Application filed. July 31, 19.23, Serial No. 654,814.

Renewed May 7, 1925.

Fii'ure 'fi is'a detailed sectional vieiv illustrain-1g" the ea p transfer and packing ineel'ianisn'i rmea ps' iniipright position.

igurolj is a similar View for caps that are inverted Figure? is a'section'z'il detailed view illuseating the pm; as shownin Figure in a different position. 2

Referring more in detail to iHgSQ I: f 1 and 22," respectively, designate the opposite sideli n-lesser a supporting franie wherein the sorting and packing mechanism oi tl'iehn achine is contained. These inenn bers'are joined'end are held rigid by means of circular, horizontally disposed frames 3 a'n'd 4lthat are fixed to the' side ni'eznbers or formed integral therewith adjacent their upper and lower ends, as" illustrated in Inger-erjsuppm-ted upon the frame is a down ntrdlytapered'hopper 5 with an open endinto "which bottle caps may be delii'ele'd for sorting and packing. Usually they are delii eredthereto direetly from cap making lhaohine. The hopper has a lower end .openingWvherein an upwardly tapering feeding eoneG is rotatably fitted; the said cone being fixed on asupporting or base ring- 7 having a transverse bar 8 provided With a hub p0rtion9 whereby it isliXe-d upon" thegnp per'end of a driving shaft 10 that eictends Vertically and cen trally Within the franieand which is nount ed for i otatiori 'wit'hin bearings 11 formed in the ho'rizontal frames 3 and {L Adjacent its loii er end thesha ft has a gearwheel 12 niounted thereonthroug'h Which connection may e niade with any suitable driving mechanism; v v I The feedingioone'ti is h0lloW,'and is provided "at one sitlQWitli etriangular opening lofthrongh iyliii ch bottle 'cap's 'ma y pass as the "cone is the drawport r l L '1 revolvedi into the interior of the cone f 0n 'thej111opper, The caps, aft;

he fr'a'liie'perts" 1 and. 2 so that caps that are de v Into ill) the tubes will be delivered onto the table either top side up, as shown in Figures 5 and 7, or bottom side up, as is shown at the left in Figure 3, but in either case the caps will be advanced about the table from beneath the ends of the tubes by means of the laterally extending ends 26-26 of a rotatably moving feeding spoon 27 that is fixed to shaft 10 in spaced relation to the top of table 25.

Supported from the table 25 about its periphery. at ninety degree intervals are tube holders 30 and 30 with open upper ends whereinto cap receiving tubes 31 may be removably mounted. Each of the holders has a side opening 32 flush with the surface of transfer table through which the caps may be advanced from the table into the tube holders.

The means which provides for advancing those caps that are delivered onto the table top side up into two oppositely disposed receiving tubes, and those caps that are delivered onto the table bottom side up into the other two receiving tubes will now be described.

After the caps pass from the lower ends of the delivery tubes 18 and 19 onto the table 25 they are engaged by the extending end portions 2626 of the feeding spoon 27 that is continuously rotated with the shaft 10 and are advanced thereby along the table. It will be stated here that the caps, desig nated by numeral 28, for which this device is intended, are of that character described in an application now pending in the United States Patent Office under Serial Number 593,256, filed October 9, 1922 and which have a downturned peripheral apron that is adapted to overlap the flange or rim of the milk bottles to which it is applied, and this apron extends somewhat below the plane of the central corking portion of the cap.

After the caps have been advanced by the spoon to such position that they are alined with the openings into the first two tube holders, designated at 30 in Figure 2. they will be dropped if in top side up position, as the cap in Figure 7 is shown, into recesses 35 provided in the table 25 wherein dies 36 are reciprocally contained so that the spoon will then pass thereover and their advance movement discontinued. The dies support rollers 37 at their lower ends that are operable upon an annular cam flange 38 formed on a disk 39 that is fixed horizontally to the shaft 10 below the table 25. The dies are of tubular form and cores 40 are fixed to the table centrally within the dies which have head portions 41 at their upper ends that lie flush with the surface of the table. Springs 42 are coiled about the cores and bear against the under sides'of the heads and against upwardly facing shoulders within the dies to thereby yieldingly retain the latter against upward movement and hold the rollers 37 against the cam flange. The cam is of such form that it will actuate the dies in synchronism with the movement of the spoon upwardly to raise the caps from the opening after the spoon has passed thereover. When in raised position, the upper ends of the dies are flush with the surface of the table and with cores 40 to provide a smooth surface over which the caps may be advanced, as presently described, into the tube holders.

The caps 28 that are delivered from the ends of the tubes 18 and 19 onto the table in bottom side up position, on account of their form of construction, will be advanced by the spoon across the die recesses and will finally be brought into contact with guide flanges 45 fixed upon the table whereby they will be crowded outwardly and delivered. into the openings of the tube holders 30; no special mechanism being required for this transfer.

The means provided for transferring the top side up caps from the table 25 into the tube holders 30 is best illustrated in Figures 2 and 3; the mechanism for feeding each tube being of the same construction and has the same mode of operation. The mechanism for each set comprises a push rod t6 slidably held in a guide bracket 17 fixed to table 25, and having a laterally curved, end portion 48 disposed in position to engage with a cap when the rod is moved outwardly to thereby advance the cap from the end of a lifting die into the adjacent tube holder. Mounted upon the bracket 17 is a stud 49 upon which a bell crank is pivotally mounted. A link 50 is pivotally fixed to an arm 51 of the bell crank and with the outer end of the push rod. The other arm 52 of the bell crank is disposed in such position that it will be engaged by a pin 53 fixed in the underside of the spoon in such position that, after the spoon end has passed over the cap and the cap has been lifted by its die, the pin will engage with the end of the bell crank arm 52 to actuate the latter, to move the push rod outwardly and thereby advance the cap into the opening of the tube holder. VVh-en the pin slips from the end of the arm 52, a spring 54 that is coiled about stud 49 brings the parts back to normal position.

Mounted slidably within the table direct- 1y beneath the tube holders 30 are plunger rods 55 provided at their upper ends with plates 56 normally flush with the table top and at their lower ends have rollers 57 that operate on a cam flange 58 formed about tube holders, upwardly. Latch plates ers fixed pivota lly by pins 61 Within'rece'sses 62 in the opposite side \valls ofthe tube vent them from i'noving downwardly after being advanced upwardly by the plunger intothe tubes. Springs 65' engage with the upper parts of the latches to yicldingly hold them in cap engaging position.

Assuming that the device is 'soconstruct ed, it is apparent that the caps maybe de livered into the hopper in any manner and that, by the rotation of the feeding cone 6, they will be fed properly through the opening 15 into the cone and Will then pass doiv'nwardly through the tubes 18 and 19 and Will be delivered onto the transtertable. Caps that are delivered in bottom side up position Will be advanced by the spoon until they engage With the guide thing-es 45 Wherei by they will be moved outwardly and into the tube holders 30 The other caps delivered in top side up position Will be advancod by the spoon until they are dropped into the die recesses, thereby permitting the spoon to pass thereover ivithout further advancement. After the spoon has passed,

the dies are operatedto lift the caps flush with the table surface and they are then advanced, by the push rod mechanism de scribed, into the tubing holders 30 The cam 39 operates in synchronisin ivith the other parts to feed the caps in the various tube holders 30 and then upwardly into the tubes 3-1 which may be removed when filled and from which the caps may be fe diiito bottle capping machines, or placed in patchages for shipment.

Having thusdescribed my invention, What I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is: i

1. A cap sorting machine of the character described, comprising a receivingliopper, a transfer table, a plurality o t tube holdors, cap receiving tubes rcniovably supportcd in said holders, means for feeding caps from the hopper onto the transfer table, a transfer mechanism. operable to advance all caps that are delivered onto the table top side up into certain of said tube holders and all caps delivered bottom side up into the other of said holders and means for advancing the caps from said holders into the said tubes.

2. In a sorting machine of the class described, a transfer table, a plurality of packing tubes supported above the table, means for delivering the articles to be sorted onto the table, means operable to deliver article's faced in difi'erent ways to the receiving ends of ditterent tubes, means operable to advance the articles upwardly onto the tubes and yieldably mounted latch members for preventing their return movement.

5, A machine of the class described, comprising tr sfer table provided with a recess,"means 'ftordelivermg articles onto the ta b.le,"packing tnb'estor'receiving said articles, a feed'spooii operableto advance prising a traiisfei'table having recesses.

therein, a hopper, mechanism for feeding caps from the hopper onto the table, a plu rality t ap receiving tubes, 'a revolubly driven feeding s'pooi1 o1""able to advance the caps that are deliverdd onto tli etable with a"cert"ain face up into certain of said ubes a eui a d erre e w y nt said recesses, mean'sbperable to periodically lift tliejseca'ps from the recessesaiidineans for transferring them into'other of said receivingtubes. i '5; A; machine of the class described comprising" a transfer tablediaving recesses thereii'i, a hopper, mechanism for feeding caps' from thel op'per onto the table,"a plurality of cap receivers adjacent to the "table, a revolubly driven "teed spoon operable to engage the cap-and to advance them about the table," guide members whereby caps faced in one direction will be directed from table into certain or said cap receivers and those faced in anotherdirection will'be advanced into said recesses and means operable to transfer the latter caps from the recesses into other of said capreceivers.

6. A cap sorting machine of the character described, comprising a frame, a receiving hopper snpportedfby the frame, a transfer table mounted below the hopper and'having die recesses therein, delivery tubes leading from the hopper to the tabl s, feeding means for delivering caps from the hopper into the delivery tubes, tube holders supported adjacent the table, cap receiving tubesremovably mountedin said holders, a feeding spoon operable to advance all caps delivered onto the table bottom side up into certain of said tube holders and all caps delivered top side up into the said die recesses, dies operable in said recesses to lift the caps from the recesses and means for transferring those caps into the other oi said tube holders and means for advancing caps from the tube holders into the tubes. 7. A cap. sorting machine of "the character described, comprising a frame,- a receiving hopper supported by the frame, a transfer table mounted below the hopper, cap delivcry tubes leading from the hopper to said table, a feeding means for delivering caps from the hopper into the deliverytubes, tube holders supported adjacent the: table, cap

receiving tubes mounted removably in said holders, a rotating feed spoon adjacent the table, guide flanges on the table directed into some of the tube holders and against which caps delivered onto the table bottom side up will be advanced by the spoon and moved thereby from the table into these tube holders; said table having die recesses therein. into which all caps delivered onto the table top side up will be advanced by said spoon, dies operable in the recesses, cam mechanism for actuating said dies to lift the caps from the recesses, means operating in synchronism of the spoon for moving the caps after being lifted into the other of said tube holders, and packing means for advancing the caps from the tube holders into the said removable tubes. 7

S. In a cap sorting machine of the class described, the combination with a transfer table, cap receiving tubes and means for advancing caps delivered onto the table and faced in one direction into certain of said tubes and those faced in an opposite direction into other of said tubes, of a hopper disposed above the table and having a. base opening, feed tubes leading downwardly from the said opening to the said table and a hollow feed cone revolubly mounted in said hopper opening and having a side opening through which articles are allowed to pass from the hopper into said feed tubes.

9. A cap sorting machine of the class described comprising a frame, a hopper having a base opening, a transfer table beneath the hopper, cap delivery tubes leading from the hopper opening to the table, tube holders supported to receive caps from the table therein, packing tubes rcmovably mounted in the tube holders, a vertical drive shaft extending centrally through the table into the hopper, a feed cone fixed to the shaft within the hopper opening and operable to feed caps from the hopper into the delivery tubes; said table having die recesses therein, dies reciprocable in said recesses, a feed spoon rotatable with the shaft for moving all caps deliveied onto the table top side up into said die recesses and for moving all caps delivered onto the table bottom side up into certain of the said tube holders, cam mechanism rotatable with the shaft for actuating the dies to lift the caps from the die recesses, feed mechanism for advancing these caps into the other tube holders, plungers mounted in the table beneath the tube holders and cam mechanism for actuating the plungers to feed the caps delivered into the holders upwardly within the packing tubes.

10. A machine as set forth in claim 9, comprising latch mechanism within the tube holders for retaining the caps delivered into the tubes against downward movement.

11. In a machine of the class described, a frame, a hopper supported by the frame and having a base opening, a transfer table supported in the frame beneath said hopper, tubes through which caps may be delivered from the hopper onto the table, a vertical drive shaft extended centrally through the table and into the hopper opening, an upwardly pointed, hollow feed cone fixed to the said shaft within the hopper opening and having a relatively small side opening therein through which caps may pass from the hopper into said delivery tubes, a plurality of tube holders adjacent the table, tubes removably mounted in said holders, a feed spoon fixed on the shaft adjacent the upper face of the table and adapted to advance all caps delivered with a certain face up into certain of said tube holders and all other caps into said table recesses, a cam wheel fixed on the shaft below the table, dies in said table recesses adapted to be lifted by said cam wheel to raise the caps delivered thereto, means for delivering these latter caps into certain of said tube holders, packing members operable by the cam to advance these caps upwardly into the receiving tubes.

Signed at Yakima, Yakima County, Washington, this 6th day of June 1923.

HAROLD R. PINKERILON.v 

